Once upon a time…
…Anaïs et Rémy served in restaurants.
Today, we envision continuing our journey in the world of wine a bit differently. Two sommeliers, one couple, and a future in the vines!
The goal is simple: learn from the best. In order to deepen our understanding, become the best possible ambassadors for wine, and ultimately create our own winery, we aim to learn alongside experts in the following four sectors:
The Soil. The Plant. The Maturation. The Wine.
We recognize that each element exists independently - important in and of itself. The idea is to build upon each experience, synthesize what we learn, and develop a complete understanding about how to make wine that aligns with our personal life philosophies.
In the meantime…
In August of 2020, we participated in the harvest and vinification of the wines with Fred Niger and Domaine de l’Ecu in the Muscadet region of France!
As of the 17th of November, 2020, we began (and obtained) a Master’s certification - Certificat de Spécialisation: Viticulture Biologique* at the Lycée Professionnel et Agricole d’Amboise. This program included internships with two wineries in La Côte Roannaise: Domaine Serol & Domaine des Pothiers.
As of January 17th, 2022, we began as vineyard workers for Domaine de la Providence (Vallet) in the Muscadet region of France.
*Link in French
The Sectors…
The Soil.
“There is no such thing as poor soil, there are only plants poorly adapted to their terrain*.”
Understand the complex field of soil composition
Understand phytosociology and ethology
Understand how to organically manage pests and parasites
Biodynamic tea mixtures and preparations as well as less pollutant chemical products like bleach and ozone
How do we manage the soil without degrading it?
How do we create a healthy ecosystem between the soil and the vines?
How do we cultivate and maintain the proper soil composition best suited for the vines?
Manage soil nutrition, mineral composition, avoid erosion, minimize compaction, and manage water stress
Ultimately, how do we create a sustainable vineyard ecosystem? How do we practice sustainable agriculture?
« Understand your soil, and attend to it accordingly.**** » Lydia & Claude Bourguignon
*Bourguignon, Lydia et Claude, Manifeste Pour Une Agriculture Durable, Actes Sud, 2017. (Page 54) Translated for the site by Rémy Pinson
**Marcel Guinochet, Phytosociologie, Masson, Paris, 1973. (Pulled from Manifeste Pour Une Agriculture Durable by Lydia and Claude Bourguignon, Actes Sud, 2017) Translated for the site by Rémy Pinson
***Kinrad Lorenz, Essais sur le comportement animal et humain, trad. Catherine and Pierre Fredet, Seuil, Paris, 1970. (Pulled from Manifeste Pour Une Agriculture Durable by Lydia and Claude Bourguignon, Actes Sud, 2017) Translated for the site by Rémy Pinson
****Bourguignon, Lydia et Claude, Le sol, la terre et les champs: Pour retrouver une agriculture saine, Éditions Sang de la Terre, Paris, 2015. Translated for the site by Rémy Pinson
The Plant.
“Re-discover forgotten techniques, practice patience, and once again learn to properly use our plants, so precious and yet so long forgotten*.”
Understand the excellent work of numerous plant professionals: Lilian Bérillon (Grapevine Nursery Owner), François Dal (Agricultural Engineer), Simonit & Sirch (Vineyard Pruning Experts).
Understand why the soil must be left to regenerate for some time before planting
Understand the numerous rootstocks, Mother vines, and the principle of “racinés”**
Specifically the difference between Mother vines for rootstocks versus for cuttings and grafting
Understand the principle of vine grafting (techniques that respect sap flow, and those that don’t)
Field grafting, a l’Anglaise (as does Lilian Bérillon)
Bench grafting, a l’oméga
Newer techniques, life the F2 Graft from Hebinger Grapevine Nursery***
Understand the vine and the study of leaves and grape varieties
Understand the different variety selections (clones and massal selection)
Understand vine behavior, including illnesses and diseases
Esca, Black Dead Arm
Grapevine Fanleaf Virus, Grapevine Leafroll Virus
Flavescence dorée
Understand pruning, especially such techniques that - like grafting - respect sap flow****
Ultimately, how can we best understand the marriage between The Soil & The Plant: the totality of their strengths, weaknesses, and requirements for each grape variety given the soil situation!
Paying special attention to selecting the proper grape variety given the surrounding elements (region, climate, soil, plant diversity), sometimes despite the appellation system
*https://www.lilian-berillon.fr/, Bérillon, Lilian, 2020. Translated for the site by Rémy Pinson
**Laure Gasparotto & Lilian Bérillon, Le Jour Où Il n’y Aura Plus de Vin, Grasset 2018
***http://www.pepiniereshebinger.fr/FR/Nos-Types-De-Greffes.html
****Marco Simonit & Massimo Giudici, Le Guide Pratique de la Taille Guyot/Cordon, France Agricole Eds 2018
The Maturation.
“...we can now speak of forest terroir in the noblest of senses, akin to the way we do for wine*.”
Understand forest and oak terroir
Genre: Quercus, Family: Fagaceae
The difference between Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak) & Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak)
The many - French and global - forests that supply oak for the world
Understand the oak supply chain, from plantation to selection
Plant density, tree age, and the role played by the forest professionals
The transformation of a selected oak into staves and then barrels
Understanding the grain, the drying process, the toast, the shape, the volume, and the expertise required to make barrels
Understand the production of amphoras
From the ancient Georgian “Qvevris” to the amphoras in use in wineries today
Understand the different possible shapes of amphoras, their strengths, and their weaknesses
Visit the French potters: Terre d’Autan**, Alain Berthéas***
Understand vinification in amphoras
Fred Niger (Domaine de l’Ecu, Muscadet), Frédéric Magnien (Domaine Magnien, Bourgogne), and others!
Ultimately, understand the principle of maturation, no matter the vessel!
*Sylvain Charlois & Thierry Dussard (avec les photos de Christophe Deschanel), Le Chêne en Majesté: de la forêt au vin, Flammarion. Translated for the site by Rémy Pinson
The Wine.
“A vigneron is someone who can do it all. Not only make wine, but also the walls surrounding her vines, the plantation of her vines, her vine selection, etc.*”
A complete understanding of each element, and the expertise to combine each in harmony
How to highlight…?
The identity of the grapes, their birthplace, and the spirit of the vigneron
How best to guide the vines and the grapes in their journey across humanity?
Ultimately, understand how to make exceptional wine!
*Laure Gasparotto & Lilian Bérillon, Le Jour Où Il n’y Aura Plus de Vin, Grasset 2018. Translated for the site by Rémy Pinson